Why "Training" Isn't the Same as "Practice" — CJ Cowan Explains

In this episode of Taking Aim, host Rich Nance sits down with CJ Cowan, a Marine Corps combat veteran and the Training Coordinator for the Surefire Institute, to talk about his journey from a childhood spent learning marksmanship fundamentals with his grandfather to route clearance in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, and ultimately into a career built around training law enforcement and civilians alike. CJ and Rich dig into the real differences between training, practice, and competition, why a "gunfighter's mindset" matters more than a match score, the science of myelination and how skill actually gets built in the brain, and the low-light tactics, weapon lights, and red dot fundamentals every serious shooter should understand. Follow CJ Cowan on Instagram: @cj_cowan_ Learn more about the Surefire Institute: https://www.surefire.com/ Follow Rich Nance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nance_training_consulting/ and https://www.instagram.com/rnancewartac/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AimpointUSA Visit: https://aimpoint.us/ to learn more PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD Chapters 00:00 – Introduction & CJ's Background in Shooting and Hunting 02:57 – Marine Corps Service and Route Clearance in Afghanistan 04:51 – Competition Shooting vs. Training: The Gunfighter Mindset 09:49 – The Science of Skill: Myelination and How the Brain Learns 27:28 – Inside the Surefire Institute: Master Coach and Low-Light Training 39:15 – Weapon Lights, Handhelds, and Low-Light Best Practices 41:55 – Red Dots vs. Iron Sights: Building Automaticity and Speed